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Thursday, June 6, 2013

A Quilting Life... Giveaway and Book Tour

It is my turn for Sherri's Book Tour. I met Sherri about 3 years ago when she had me quilt for her. I looked back at some of the quilting I did for her and I really can not believe it has been three years. The quilting I did three years ago is so different from what I do now.Sherri is a very talented person and I am so glad that I have been blessed to know her. She has pieced quilts for me, and I have quilted for her - now she has a book out and I will have one out soon. I am so happy for anyone to succeed, but it is even more rewarding when it is someone you know personally.

A Quilting Life: Creating a Handmade Home is a special book. Sherri has made cute projects that any quilter at any level would love to put together. The photography in this book is fantastic as well. Also, I am a little attached to her book because of the fact that my quilting is in this book - and it is the first time that my quilting has been published in a book. So, when I opened her book and saw this page I gasped and got the biggest grin on my face.....

This is the project, "Pinwheel Picnic" and a CLOSE UP of my quilting is the center fold of the Table and Contents page. So cool.

This darling quilt can be found on page 50 in Sherri's book.

And, here it is! So cute!

So, Sherri asked to have me share some tips on having a handmade home, including some organizational tips to share with you all. Well, I had to laugh a little at myself because I am so not organized. Sometimes I think my brain will explode because of all that is going on inside my head with all the projects and things that I want to do - my family can testify to that. As far as having my quilting things organized - well, I literally wait until my Mom comes to town and she reorganizes my threads and my cutting board area, not to mention she cleans out my fridge. Thanks Mom - you coming soon?

The only thing that has helped me stay organized enough to accomplish what I want to with quilting is to be on a schedule. It isn't always perfect, especially with our kids throwing the schedule off. But, the days where I quilt from 6-7 am, 1-3 pm, and 7:30-8:30 pm are the days that keep me on track. I throw in as much piecing as I can during that time too.

So, one last picture - and this is proof that I am so not organized - this is the only picture I could find of about ten pictures I took of Sherri's quilt before I sent it back to her. I have no idea where they ended up and I have spent the last two hours trying to find them on my computer.

Anyway, the quilting is simple but fun. I did a lot of ruler work on this quilt with quite a bit of reference marking. I used a white thread for the white fabric and I used a silver metallic thread for the colors. It really was fun to quilt and the pattern is so fun.

So, do you want a copy of this book? Here is your chance to win a copy - just leave one comment telling me how you make your home a handmade home. Good luck!

You will have more opportunities to win Sherri's book. Stop by Lissa's blog tomorrow.

354 comments:

Congratulations on being in print again! A testament to your wonderful work! I am slowly making my home a haven of handmade... I have cross-stitch pictures, some quilts, wallhangings, Christmas decorations, bags...my husband hasn't yet told me it's getting too much to handle (yet!) Our winter has just started, a good chance to get projects finished. Best wishes, Jenny

your quilting is amazing - congratulations for being featured in what looks like a fantastic book. So far my home doesn't look too handmade as I usually give away what I make, but I want to work on changing that a bit :-)

im always so in love with your quilting work - really amazing, I try to make my home handmade,but its slowly, some cushions, table runners, wall hangings, and quilts for the kids, we have already, and cross stitch pictures

Hi! I usually make quilts or pillows for others and I haven't enough evidences in my home of my big passion, but if you look inside my cabinet where I try to store all my fabrics, threads and other stuff you can believe that!! Barbara from Italy

I've always loved making things. There is just something so satisfying about making something from scratch to share with the people you love!! I Sewed my daughters dresses when she was little, made wooden puzzles with my scroll saw, did cross stitch, knit and crocheted, canned fruit, made relish and salsa (yum) and now quilting (the best for last!!)

How do I make my home a hand made home? By decorating with only beautiful items made by people, not mass made by machines. Of course some of my quilts and hand made are visible, along with paintings from friends and many items made by my daughters and other members of my family. So, I'm always on the look out for new projects, and I'm sure to find them in "A Quilting Life."

Judi, your quilting is fabulous! You do such an incredible job! And yes, it is so neat that it is in Sherri's book. I try to make our home a handmade home by having both finished and UNFINISHED projects all around! I am in the process of teaching 3 young girls (14, 14, and 12) to piece quilts and our "classroom" is in my basement. I have several vintage machines set up for them to use so sewing machines abound in my home! I'd LOVE to win Sherri's book----I've been drooling over it ever since she announced it. Thanks for the chance!

Your quilting is amazing! It certainly compliments Sherri's stunning quilt. What a duo you are! As to how my home is a quilting home, as I sit in my quilting chair in the livingroom, I can count 11 quilted items from wall hangings to cuddle quilts to doll quilts surrounding me. What a great day for more quilting! Thanks for the chance!

I have many handmade things decorating my house -- wallhangings, bed quilts, window treatments, pillows, etc. Making it yourself is the best way I know to get exactly what you want. Looks like a great book, thanks for the chance to win!

Our home is blessed to have my Mom's framed embroidery and some of the artwork that used to hang on the walls of her home, my grandkids' handiwork, and my Granny's quilts. I also love to redo and refinish thrift store items for our home.

To make my home a handmade home, I add custom touches to all our hand me down furniture. I love re-painting found objects to suit my style, not to mention the handmade quilts draped over every couch and chair ready for snuggling!

homemade at my house is decorating with my quilts-displayed on the walls, throw pillows on the sofa and I have 2 custom curio end tables my dad made me that I have quilts folded inside. I also finally made my own window curtains this spring. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Sherri's book

We live in an old farmhouse full of handmade things, lots of quilts, furniture my husband builds, and I sew all the curtains, etc. I also have a bunch of antique linens that are hand made that we love to use.

Love your quilting!!Our home is definitely filled with handmade -- my husband has built most of our furniture and every room has quilts, wool appliqued pictures and pillows. Add a few hand painted pictures. Let's just say - there is no doubt that a woodworker and a quilter live in our home!

As always your quilting is gorgeous!That's an easy question to answer-by having lots of things I make in my home, from quilts,runners, wall hangings, pillows, valances, to just little things sittin around on shelves or tables.

For the longest time I gave everything away to friends and family so their homes were handmade. Then I would look around my house and be disappointed that I didn't have anything. I started making two of everything so I would have one too. Mostly tablerunners right now. Starting to look pretty nice I have to say.

I have always liked to make things, but have given away the bulk of my efforts. I am working on adding quilts, cross stitched pictures, sewn pillows and curtains to my own decor. My pantry tells a different story however. It is full of stuff that I have put up. Most of our food is made from scratch because I love to cook almost as much as I love to quilt.

Yes, yes, yes I want this book. Thanks for a chance! Just love to hear your work is prominently displayed in a book. Most of my handmade work has been given away. But I have my Mom's quilts, crochet, knitting, and needlepoint scattered. Plus I am lucky enough to have a dress my grandmother made for my mom when she was a baby as well as a slip she made for her when she was older handing in my sewing room. (note: Mom cut the sleeves off the dress to make doll clothes when she first started to learn to sew as a child!!)

I totally believe in a handmade home! If I can make it, I am making it! I just made some couch pillows, table runners, quilts...next I want to make curtains.

Congrats on your quilting being in the cook. I think you do amazing work. I am trying to get myself to a long arm class that my LQS offers, so I am especially inspired by your blog! THanks for the chance to win!

We don't have access to the same types of stores here in Congo that I was used to in the states. I have learned to make my own rugs, curtains, table clothes, and clothing in addition to my quilting hobby.

I'm renewing my love for sewing (used to sew for my now grown kids). I have a granddaughter due in six weeks. I made her a few small items already and I'm looking forward to doing lots more sewing/quilting for her.

I make my home a handmade house by painting my bedroom a beach island surrounded by sand dunes, surf and sky with a skylight/gazebo roof on the sky/ceiling with clouds. I have pillow shams all over with beach/island prints. I have tons of quilts that need finishing and some are on the couch to cat proof the upholstery. Hope I win!

I make my home a handmade home by having quilts on every bed and on some chairs throughout the house. I also knit, so we have knitted afghans for warmth and comfort. Finally, I use knitted dishcloths in the kitchen and handmade placemats and napkins! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.Patsy

Your quilting and Sherrie's book...it just doesn't get any better than this!!! I try to incorporate something handmade in every room, even if it's just a simple pillow or doilie :) I'd a copy of Sherri's book and can't wait for yours!

I am very lucky to have a husband who doesn't mind having my homemade treasures on every available surface and even on the walls. His idea of decorating is white walls and a couple of pieces of furniture...and nothing else. And that can be found in our house....absolutely nowhere!

I move last summer and am decorating the home from scratch. Most of my current pictures are cross stitch as I used to do that. I am thinking about getting back into cross stitch. The beds have quilts. I plan to make more quilts or quilt blocks to hang on the wall.

Thanks to you and Sherri for the giveaway...I would love this book! And your quilting is always an inspiration! My homemade home includes lots of quilts and throws, lots of tote bags (one for every need!) , stuffed toys, and hand made p.j.'s for my grand daughter!

I love to made handmade things for my home,curtains,pillows,cross stitched alphabets,quilts!!! And i love pinwheel quilts as the one in the book and your increíble quilting( imposible for me).Congratulations for your work.

Thanks for the chance to win this great book! I have quilts everywhere in my home and, in most cases, they are functional but there are a few on the walls. My sewing mess is all over the house though so that counts too!

I use quilts and throw pillows to soften and warm things up around the house. We also had some of my husband's photography professionally framed and that is on the wall in my living room. A very personal touch for us! Love the book! Good luck everybody!

I have quilts on the walls, over the chairs and sofa and hanging on the railings. Actually they are everywhere lol. I change them with the seasons which I'm sure my husband loves because he has to get out the ladder.

I try to make quilts for the "themes" that everyone is into such as trains, soccer, etc. Then I make "special" holiday bed linens, table linens, etc. Seasonal is fun for the table and quilts on rocking chairs and on the sofa to cover up and enjoy. Little things but they add a smile.

Love your quilting. My handmade home consists of my adventures in quilting, my children's artwork,as many handmade by others things as I can get rather than mass produced and as much handmade food rather than convenience food as I can manage with a five and eight year old and a husband that has to travel a whole lot for his business.

Just wanted to say that my quilts and knitted afghans are all around my home. And my mom just doesn't understand it ... to her, handmade equates to homemade, and she would just rather go out and buy something ~ homemaid means you can't afford storemade ...:-(

wow....your quilting is amazing. I look forward to your book too! and there really is no way like quilting to make a home a homemade home...I love the way just a little throw or toss cushion can make such a difference...I also love how just a runner thrown over a door or across a table adds such homeyness too

In the beginning,(first married), handmade/homemade is all you can afford! Somewhere along the way it becomes "what makes a house a home"! Homemade is the love we share with family and friends!Thanks for the give-away!

How cool to be published and a close-up of your quilting to boot! Love it! I have quilts all over the house; in baskets, hanging on an old ladder, on beds, the walls, etc. Thanks for a chance to win Sherri's book, looks like a great one

Your quilting if just fabulous! It is exciting to see people succeed in doing what they love. I have worked to make my home a Homemade home for many years. I make most of my curtains from fabric I find on sale or even garage sales. I have made many cross stitch and embroidery projects and now am adding quilts to the mix.

Fantastic quilting! Your work is "beyond beautiful", a true tribute in Sherri's book!

Our home is a "homemade home" for sure. My "thing" to make it feel "homemade" is to change out my wall quilt hangings per the season and/or holiday. Hubby loves this idea - he says it saves him on painting because I always change the "color" with the "changing of the quilts"...LOL

gorgeous quilting you do! I make mine a homemade home by having quilts on every bed - and on the walls - and on the couch - and making window treatments and hooking rugs and generally doing everything I can to decorate our home with things I make with my hands.

Wow your quilting is amazing.Love it.I make my home handmade by decorating with quilts both made by myself and my mil. They are hanging and on beds,tables,and recliners. I also have cross-stitched items on the wall and for a time I was into some wood crafts and those are there also but to top it off. My home is a log cabin built by my Dad. So we have always been a home-made family making homes.

I asked my husband the question 'how do I make our house a handmade home'? He quickly reminded me that we had actually built our homemade home (with a large workroom included)! So after all the manual work of building and painting, I then moved onto dressing the windows, and in the past two years I have made 10 sets of curtains and blinds. After a hard days work it was great to snuggle up under my hand stitched butterfly quilt. I am gradually getting more time for my patchwork and quilting now.Love your work, Judi!

First of all, your quilting is gorgeous!! I try to make my home a handmade home by making homemade laundry soap, bath soap, etc. What I can't make, I buy local. I'm just starting on my quilting journey, so I hope to add quilts of my own to the ones given to me by my grandma.

Your quilting is magnificent! How do I make my home handmade? I love to do needlework, lots of cross-stitch and embroidery. Homemade pillows, bedding, window treatments - I also love to custom paint the walls. Our home is one of kind to be sure!

Your quilting is beautiful! Well, I fall into that terribly unorganized category. BUT I can always find time to create...for other people. My homemade home is full of homemade for friends and family. One of these days it will be for me. Thanks for a chance!

I love homemade gifts of any sort - cards, pictures, quilts - so I put them on prominent display in my home as soon as I receive one. Congratulations on your quilting being published! I think your work is gorgeous.

Beautiful photos of your amazing quilting! I love to make all of the beds with a white duvet and handquilted quilts folded at the foot. Also, a good majority of the wall decorations are elaborate cross stitching, paintings or hand made memorabilia from our travels. So homey....

Your quilting is just so beautiful - I wish I lived nearby and could bring my quilts to you! A handmade home - well I guess every bed has at least one patchwork quilt on it! - and quilts hang over banisters, on the back of sofas and chairs - patchwork cushions in abundance for inside on cold days, and for the chairs on the porch on warmer days. and so on until every surface has something handmade with love! This book looks so good - I do hope I am one of the lucky ones!

Your work is fabulous by the way. I lov emakeing my home a "home made home" I yty to llways incorporate home made decor items into each season in my home. I sew and quilt and craft. And recycle and reuse as much as possible. I encourage my childrens creativity. I set my daughter up a art table and painting area in my studio room. So anytime she wants she can go and paint and draw to her hearts content and play with fabric too. I also try and display quilts in my home as well as any kind of homemade items I can make. Thanks for the chance to enter your book giveaway.

Thanks for the chance to win the book - it looks fantastic. I have quilts, pillows, table runners, and wall hangings that I have made. I change them with the seasons and for holidays. Love the way it looks!

Firstly Congrats to you, its gorgeous. It keeps the eye moving. I make homemade for my grandkids and keep it at my home, it makes it a special time when they are here and they ask for "their personalized quilt.:) "

I display my quilts on the back of my couch, draped over the rocker and in an antique, glass fronted cabinet...and lately I've been stitching up pillows to coordinate with the quilts. Other homemade stuff - well bread of course, and cross stitched projects on the walls...

I would love to win this book. I have been a fan of your quilting for some time. I make my home homemade by hanging my quilts that I have made, along with some heirloom qults that both my husband's and my grandmother have made.

WOW! What gorgeous quilting! It is really breathtaking. I make my home handmade by displaying quilts on the beds and other small items on the walls and in the kitchen. Thanks for a great giveaway. I would love to win Sherri's book.

Your quilting is second to none! I always have 3 or 4 quilts draped over furniture in various parts of the house, as well as a couple of wallhangings. I like to change them out for the different seasons. The book would definitely be an asset to my quilting library!!!

I make my home a homemade home...just by doing it. It was out of a desire for quilts in my home and a tight budget (that's still there) that made me begin my quilting journey. It's become a small - but large enough - business that's kept me at home with my kids, and now they're in the "craft sale/market" business with me. We wouldn't have it any other way!

I love decorating my home with handemade items that I have sewn or made. It means so much more to me if I, or someone close to me made it. I like to surround myself with things I love and that have meaning to me, so I am not one to run out and buy the latest Euro decor.keels@mvdsl.com

Stunning quilting. For me a homemade home is about putting my own stamp on things and displaying the family's creations. I make my own curtains and cushions, quilts for the children, cross stitch pictures on the wall. My boys create all sorts of artwork I proudly display. My husband too is creative and contributes to the decor.

Looks like an awesome book and congratulations for having your quilting showcased in it! My home is filled with the little, colorful vintage things that I find to uses in unusual ways that make me smile when I see them (of course my husband considers it "clutter")and of course the curtains, quilts and other fiber art that I have created over the years from quilts to curtains.

I've made a handmade home by refinishing a lot of the furniture pieces I have found thrifting, sewing my own pillows, and also doing my own art pieces! I love being crafty, so most of my work is what we use every day :)

Thanks for the chance to win Sherri's book. It looks fabulous. I am trying to add more homemade touches around here with some table runners and wall hangings. It is fun to change them out with the seasons.

My hand made home is me making my own curtains for my house, all the blankets we use, table runners, cooking. I like my things to have my own touch to it. It saves money, and to me makes it so much more beautiful. Even buying a bed frame on craigslist and painting and distressing it myself ect...

Hi Judy, Thanks for a chance to win Sherri's book. Your quilting is absolutely amazing!! I give my house that home made look by hanging lots of wall hangings pertaining to the season in as many rooms as possible. I have one wall devoted to a full size quilt. It gives it that warm and comfy feeling, especially in winter!

Your quilting on the pinwheel quilt is lovely! I also appreciate that you shared your time blocks where you fit in quilting during the day - I am going to try to create my own chunks of time this summer.

As far as a handmade home goes - it might be the quilts I made for my sons that I get to tuck them under each night or the handmade dolls I made my daughter that I end up picking up in various spots around the house.

Your post got me thinking and I realized that I have decorated every bedroom in my homes with handmade bedding, quilts and window treatments since I was a newly-wed so many years ago. My latest finish was a quilt, bedding and curtains for my granddaughter who is turning two. This is the second set I made for her, the first was all her nursery bedding!Thanks for helping me bring back fond memories!

How I make it homemade? hmm I have made sure there are pictures of family everywhere, there is always some kind of project laying around, and I tried my hand at scrapbooking so we have a lot of homemade albums.

Weel, we have several homemade quilts on our beds as well as lap quilts. I make most of our throw pillows and some drapes--usually out of drapery material. I paint pots and make flower arrangements. I even make homemade meals!

Over the years, I have tried to make my home a handmade one by not being afraid to try things! I have sewn curtains and pillows, repainted furniture, done some decorative painting here and there, and most recently I have learned to quilt. Nothing beats creating something with your own hands! I love your quilting! This pattern is too cute! I love pinwheels!

I have stacks of quilts everywhere; our living room, all the bedrooms and the basement too! I think it gives people the vibe that they can come in, put their feet up and get comfortable which is exactly what we do!

I've always enjoyed crafting in a number of ways so my home has handcrafted quilts, pillows, and window coverings as while as hand painted items. My younger family and now my grandchildren wear some of my handmade clothing, especially hand smocked items for special occasions. I always love your quilting!

My home is handmade with quilts and pillows piled around. I try to make homemade food for dinner most nights of the week too!! What do I have to do to get one of my quilts quilted by you?? It would be an honor!

The book looks fabulous, and the quilting is amazing!! It's fun to add a little bit of special handmade things. Some were made by my mother and mother in love. I do use quilts around my home to make it a handmade home. We change the quilts during the holiday seasons.

How fun! I wish I could quilt like you...someday, maybe! LOL I recently moved and I'm working on alot of re-doing of work furniture. Bought a fun mirror, sanded it down and painted it a beautiful purple for my daughter. Re-doing my sons headboard, red, his pick :) Bought a neat desk for $20 that I'm going to sand down and work on painting navy blue. I'm also in the process of making a quilt for my daughters bed using the Quick Curve Ruler and the BOM Jenny offered...she's done with it and I think I have 4 or 5 blocks made! LOL Oh well, everything in time!

I like to use quilted table runners for the different seasons and I'm working on quilts for the beds in my house. Your quilting is gorgeous! I am learning to free motion quilt on my home machine and I hope to be able to quilt pretty designs like you one day. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Sherri's book.

I make my home a handmade home by using fabrics as much as possible to express myself in my home. I love to transform "found" objects into decorations and use my child's and now grandchildren's artwork, often having them help me with a project. I'm also working on making all rooms as neutral as practical or possible to let the fabrics create the mood.

Congratulations on being in print once more. You do such wonderful work, you are an inspiration to me. What a wonderful book. I make my home a handmade home by making quilts for the kids, making pillow cases, and making table toppers and runners for the house. I also do some small clothing items for the kids. I am always fixing or sewing something for someone.

This is so wonderful to find such great new blogs and websites to buy fabric etc. I'm thrilled to have found you and will follow you. This grandmas home is homemade because of homemade food and handmade quilts thrown over beds, chairs and couches. Quilting fulfills me.

I guess I try to make my home "handmade" by using my quilts, cross stitch framed pictures, some embroidered items my mother made and items I find at estate sales and garage sales. I love your quilting and your blog.. You are just fantastic!

I love that quilt and your quilting is what makes it really eye-popping! My home is handmade with pillows, wall hangings, paintings, and decorative items that were made by me or a family member. I like having unique things that you just can't buy in a store.

The walls in our lounge/kitchen/dining room are covered in quilts, small and large, and many framed cross stitch pictures. In fact, we are starting to run out of wall space! Thanks for the lovely giveaway.

I make my home a handmade home by having everything that surrounds me being things that I love; not the trends, not the "proper" things, but the family things passed down, the handmade things from my grandparents, parents, and myself and my husband. I love my home.

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About Me

I am Judi the Green Fairy of Green Fairy Quilts. Strange name you may think, but it is a fun story of when I was young and my mom would comment before she left anywhere that it would be nice if the Green Fairy cleaned up while she was gone. I usually took the hint and cleaned up. So, when we started to think of a name for our business, naturally Green Fairy Quilts was it. I love to quilt and love to design, so together with my husband Clint we have turned my passion into a business. Clint now runs the business while I get to spend my time taking care of our four children and making time to longarm quilt and design quilt patterns. Thanks for stopping by!